I BEGAN to find my voice and share my story in 2009 when an author friend approached me to talk about ‘coming out’ – she wanted to get an understanding of this extraordinary process of identity-claiming to see what it might reveal to those people of faith who struggle to accept diversity of sexual orientation and gender …
‘Doubting’ Thomas is so much more – A more generous response to the infamous apostle
The story of Thomas the apostle is an invitation and challenge to us to be generous in listening to questions and scepticism. How do we cope with challenges to faith – our own and other people’s?
- 7th April 2024
- Christianity, Liverpool, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
The work of Christmas begins – An Epiphany reflection
A REFLECTION on the story of the magi travelling to find Jesus in Bethlehem [Matthew 2:1-12] and the poem The Work Of Christmas by Howard Thurman.
- 7th January 2024
- Christianity, Christmas, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
John the Baptist: Opening an Advent window on the bigger picture of the Christmas story
THE CHRISTMAS STORY is a jigsaw, which we have pieced together from the four gospels. The pieces include: a star, a manger, shepherds, and wise people from the east. But the story of a man in the desert baptizing people doesn’t seem to fit the puzzle. Does it even belong in our picture of Christmas?
- 14th December 2023
- Christianity, Christmas, Liverpool, Spirituality
- abravefaith
My Christian journey – A testimonal for ministry training
IN MAY 2023 I began the process of applying to begin training as a Methodist minister in 2024. This is the testimonial I wrote for a portfolio as part of my application.
- 24th November 2023
- Christianity, Civil Partnership, identity, Liverpool, Meaning of Life, Mental Health, Open Table, relationships, sexuality, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Finding your burning desire: Inspired by the call of Moses
THE REVELATION of God’s name and the call of Moses [3:1-15, 4:1-5], is an example of how, just when we think we have God figured out, God can overturn our expectations once again.
In Moses, God takes an inarticulate, excuse-riddled murderer and turns him into one of the greatest leaders of the Hebrew people, who becomes a prophet in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other faith traditions.
- 11th November 2023
- Christianity, identity, Journey Of Hope, Methodist, Open Table, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Let justice and peace flow – A Creationtide reflection
SEPTEMBER is the Season of Creation. It’s a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation, through celebration, prayer and action, together with the whole human family, for the good of our common home.
- 10th September 2023
- Christianity, Liverpool, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Surprising outcasts – Joseph and the Canaanite woman
IN 2021, a Black woman became the President of the Methodist Church In Britain for the first time. In her presidential address at Conference, Revd Sonia Hicks told the story of her Aunt Lize, a life-long Methodist who came from Jamaica to the UK. On her first Sunday in this country, Lize attended the local Methodist church but, although she brought her membership ticket, the minister turned her away.
- 20th August 2023
- Christianity, Kindness, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
10 years of same-sex marriage in England & Wales – BBC Radio Merseyside interview
TEN YEARS AGO today the Houses of Parliament passed legislation to allow same-sex marriage in England and Wales. To mark the anniversary, BBC Radio Merseyside host Paul Salt interview me and my husband Warren, as we were the first couple to register a civil partnership in a place of worship in the UK.
- 17th July 2023
- Christianity, Civil Partnership, Liverpool, marriage, Marriage Equality, Pride, relationships, sexuality, Spirituality
- abravefaith
ChatGPT: Tell me about myself
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) is growing fast – ChatGPT, the popular chatbot from OpenAI, is estimated to have reached 100 million monthly active users just two months after its launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer internet application ever.
So I decided to ask it a few questions, to see how intelligent it may be. Here’s a selection of its responses.
- 2nd May 2023
- Open Table
- abravefaith
Giving thanks for this phenomenal journey
AT THE ANNUAL MEETING this weekend of the parish where the first Open Table community began, I spoke about my journey with this community over the last 15 years, and the new stage I am …
- 30th April 2023
- Appreciation, Christianity, Gratitude, Liverpool, Methodist, Open Table, Spirituality
- abravefaith
When the stranger becomes the host – On the road to Emmaus
THE COMMUNITY in which I joined the Methodist Church last year hosts a short telephone service on Sunday afternoons – like a Christian conference call! Today I was invited to offer a five-minute reflection on the Gospel …
- 23rd April 2023
- Christianity, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
A face for radio
On Sunday 2nd April I spoke to Paul Beesley at BBC Radio Merseyside about my journey, from London to Liverpool, in and out of Christianity and back again, coming out as gay and Christian, and the growth of the Open …
- 6th April 2023
- Christianity, Coming Out, Liverpool, Open Table, sexuality, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Sep 07
Coming out of the Church
- By abravefaith in Christianity, Coming Out, LGBT rights, Spirituality
-
7th September 2012
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2012/09/07/coming-out-of-the-church/
Aug 31
The ultimate question
- By abravefaith in Christianity, Coming Out, LGBT rights, Meaning of Life
-
31st August 2012
TOMORROW I turn 42. In the first novel and radio series of Douglas Adams‘ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a group of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings demand to learn the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything from the supercomputer, Deep Thought, specially built for this purpose. It takes Deep Thought 7½ million years to …
- BBC Television, Christian, civil partnership, coming out, Deep Thought, Douglas Adams, Gay community, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, LGBT, Liverpool, Merseyside, Personal development, Phrases from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Roman Catholic Church, Same-sex marriage, Sexual orientation, sexuality, spirituality
- 8 comments
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2012/08/31/the-ultimate-question/
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- The work of Christmas begins – An Epiphany reflection
- John the Baptist: Opening an Advent window on the bigger picture of the Christmas story
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- Finding your burning desire: Inspired by the call of Moses
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